Squillace Mary, Krupp Lauren, Ray Sharon, Muratori Lisa M
Occupational Therapy Department, School of Health Professions, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY, USA (MS).
New York University Langone Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center, New York, NY, USA (LK).
Int J MS Care. 2023 Jan-Feb;25(1):30-34. doi: 10.7224/1537-2073.2021-046. Epub 2022 Jul 5.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative disease with typical onset between 20 and 50 years of age. An increase in MS cases has been found in the adolescent US population. Adolescents require fine motor manipulation skills for their functional and academic performance. Deficits in the major components of manipulation skills may result in insufficient function. This study examined the 2-point, 3-point, and lateral pinch strength of adolescents diagnosed as having MS.
Seventy-four adolescents, 37 with a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS and a control group of 37 age-matched peers, participated in this study. Data on 2-point, 3-point, and lateral pinch strength in both hands were collected using a pinch meter. Analyses of covariance were used to describe differences across the 2 groups, and effect sizes (Cohen ) were calculated by finding the mean difference between the study groups divided by the pooled SD.
A significant difference was found in the 2-point pinch strength of the right hand of participants with pediatric MS compared with age- and sex-matched control participants. There were no significant differences in 2-point pinch strength of the left hand or in 3-point or lateral pinch strength of the right and left hands.
Pinch grasp strength was differentially affected in adolescents with MS. Pinch strength should be assessed and considered in adolescents with MS for a better understanding of their functional performance of fine motor tasks in activities of daily living and academics.
多发性硬化症（MS）是一种退行性疾病，典型发病年龄在20至50岁之间。在美国青少年人群中，MS病例有所增加。青少年在其功能和学业表现方面需要精细运动操作技能。操作技能主要组成部分的缺陷可能导致功能不足。本研究调查了被诊断患有MS的青少年的两点捏力、三点捏力和侧捏力。
74名青少年参与了本研究，其中37名被诊断为复发缓解型MS，另有37名年龄匹配的同龄人作为对照组。使用捏力计收集双手的两点捏力、三点捏力和侧捏力数据。采用协方差分析来描述两组之间的差异，并通过计算研究组之间的平均差异除以合并标准差来计算效应大小（科恩d值）。
与年龄和性别匹配的对照参与者相比，患有儿童MS的参与者右手的两点捏力存在显著差异。左手的两点捏力以及右手和左手的三点捏力或侧捏力均无显著差异。
MS青少年的捏力受到不同程度的影响。对于患有MS的青少年，应评估并考虑捏力，以便更好地了解他们在日常生活活动和学业中精细运动任务的功能表现。
